Linda's Magic Workshop - Linda Britt Design

We always have several projects going on at our house.  Peter is building a series of custom oak cages for our lizards.   He's been designing, measuring and building them carefully.  They will have lights and heaters and meet the requirements for each kind of lizard.    The backs of the cages have screen on the upper half for ventilation and the lower half is a smooth board.   He wants these habitats to be realistic like those found in nature.   Since lizards love to climb around on rocks,Peter used ‘FixAll’ to create the rock texture.     I used acrylic paints to finish the rock representation.   Painting the board to look like natures rocks Ready to assemble Assembled A series of 3 cages This morning we let Willie try it out.   A test run! We think he likes his new condo!  Willie, the bearded dragon, on his rocks 

 Bead-It in Prescott AZ Viking Knit is one of the oldest wire chaining techniques and we first see it being used in the 9 th century.   That must be about the time wire was being made in long enough pieces with a small enough diameter to be flexible for chaining.   It is again popular with jewelry makers and once a person learns the technique it can lead to a Zen like experience.   Basically it is using 26-30 gauge wire and making loops in a circular pattern around a dowel (or similar object) using continuous wire.   When it is finished, the tube is drawn through a series of holes, each smaller than the next, until the chain is the size you want.   The Project I’ve wanted to teach this technique and our local bead store, Bead-It, agreed.  We set a date and had lots of interest.   My first Viking Knit Class was a learning experience for my 7 students and for me.   Aren’t we always learning?   The goal was to make a b...

Some of my canes Books are my passion – well at least one of my passions.   When I saw Donna Kato’s book The Art of Polymer Clay Millefiori Techniques I just had to have it.   In fact, I took it to the hospital when Peter was getting his biopsy and read it cover to cover.   It is beautifully illustrated with great explanations and it made me want to try millefiori!   Millefiori is one of those words that just feel good in my mouth when I say it.   I tend to jump into new learning experiences with both feet and do a big project rather than starting small and working big.   It has always been a problem for me.   I did one needlepoint tapestry, drew my own pattern, and 10 years later finished it.   Never did another one.   My philosophy is: If I still like it after a big project, I’ll keep doing it.     The upcoming Easter holiday gave me the idea to use one of my empty ostrich eggs and cover it with polymer clay canes. ...

 Mom and 2 eggs  Fat-tailed Geckos have large tails (hence the name) and skinny legs.   They are kind of funny looking and there are very friendly.   They have thin brown velvet like skin with a design and you need to be gentle with them.   Their tails can come off as a defense mechanism and it is where they store their fat.   The tail will be regrown but never as nice as the original.   They eat mealworms and crickets in captivity and insects in nature.   These geckos have eyelids which makes them unique in the gecko world. They grow to be 4-8 inches long and live 15 to 18 years.     We just added a Fat-tailed Gecko nursery to our house!   It really is a 2’x2’ incubator that keeps the humidity and temperature just right for the 4 existing eggs and 2 on the way! Peter had 4 fat-tailed geckos and he kept them separated for several years.   They were easy to care for and feed.   Now that Peter is building new cages for ...

Yesterday my friend, Kim, and I met at Kuhle’s to explore the junk yard!   Neither of us had been there and neither of us had a camera to capture all the interesting shapes and textures and materials.   But we did find Darrell who led us to the locked up room where old sheet metal to be recycled is kept.   We found a treasure trove of copper and one sheet of brass as well as several gauges of wire.   It did not take long to amass 20 pounds of metal at $5.00 a pound.   Men are working! One of the first questions we were asked was, “Are you just looking or are you buying?”   Having grown up with two brothers and a father who was in demolition (along with many other businesses), I knew we better be buying.   I know not to waste a busy man’s time when it is close to lunch (or any other time either!).   So we were “buying”!   The sheet copper we bought had a natural patina, purple colors where I suppose someone tried etching, and there ...

Heather and Peter Rusty Blackbird Sunday Peter and I took my niece, Heather, to Phoenix to attend a conference.   We wanted to show her some of the natural beauty of our area.   Saturday we toured her around the Prescott lakes, introduced her to birding and later shopped on Whiskey Row.   Sunday we stopped in Anthem hoping to see the Rusty Blackbird, a rarity in Arizona and a lifer for Peter and I. We had been to the community lake three times before hoping to add this to our life list and this time we saw it!   Looking for one bird of a kind is always a challenge and it helped to have three pair of eyes. Then we went to Tempe Town Lake because there was a Red-necked Grebe sighted and that also would be a lifer for me.   Tempe Town Lake is a beautiful community center.   In fact, there were three major events happening on the weekend.   We just wanted to stand on the pedestrian bridge to look for the one Red-necked Grebe!    ...

Joy is hearing the word BENIGN.   Peter’s tumors are benign and still need surgery but they are not a crisis. Joy is understanding that each moment is precious and being able to take the time to enjoy it.   Joy is finding a pool of water in a dry creek bed. Joy is hearing a friend’s voice when you pick up the phone. Joy is smelling cinnamon rolls baking and retrieving memories of good times. Joy is seeing love when I look in my partner’s eyes.   Joy is having the surprise of a rainbow, seeing dew on cactus spines and snow on a tree filled with pink blossoms. Joy is helping someone and learning to accept help in return. Joy is seeing the first crocus peek out in the springtime, the first rays of morning sunshine or the first flakes of snow. Joy is sharing knowledge. Joy is receiving hugs and healing butterflies from someone I’ve never met as well as from my family and friends. Joy is sharing friendship- listening, hearing and speaking...

The road curved around a mountain just outside of Superior AZ and … SURPRISE!   Wildflowers all around us – up the hillside and down the hillside; under the saguaros and next to the highway.   Breathtaking.   In fact, Peter and I had to stop and park along the highway (which is another nice thing about taking the scenic route.)   We walked among the spring flowers and took lots of pictures.   Fortunately both of us had cameras because I lost all of mine in transferring them to my computer.   Frustrating!   But the memory of being surrounded by purples, yellows, oranges, and reds remains.   We went to Tucson to see doctors at the University Medical Center for Peter.   Getting a second opinion on a serious illness is so important.   This one gave us hope and yes there will be surgery.   Once we have a definitive answer, intelligent choices can be made.   The first medical opinion was way too scary without e...

Feathers with beautiful textures and colors.   As an interior designer, I had access to many exotic products and one was borders of feathers.   These were feathers to sew on edges of drapery; feathers to accent exotic bed pillows; feathers to do almost anything clients wanted.   So when I retired, I kept some special samples (which have been discontinued now) and decided someday I would figure out how to use them.   Thank you Bargia for making them available!   Yesterday I decided to try my hand at using one of the samples.   Feather jewelry intimidates me a little.   I’m afraid the feathers will come apart or fall out but these samples are sewn to a tape and look secure.   The sample feathers for this project are iridescent green with black edges.   The sample measures about 4” wide.   I looked through my beads and went to Bead-It (Prescott AZ) to see if there was anything that caught my eye.   I found a strand of ...